August 7, 2012

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Psalm 24:1-2

Psalm 23 is everyone's favorite as it celebrates our Great Shepherd, the Lord. Following, of course, is the 24th Psalm which confirms the Sovereignty of the Lord.

What does that mean?

In short, it means He is in charge and you're not. It means He is in control and you aren't. Those are true becase He is the Creator and you're not.

When you acknowledge the fact of His sovereignty it changes everything because you are then confronted by your accountability to Him.

This raises the issue of reconciling His sovereignty and your freewill. If He is sovereign then what does your freewill really mean? Where does your will begin and His sovereignty end?

The late, great A.W. Tozer attempted to reconcile these seemingly contradictory ideas of God choosing or calling us and our choosing God with this illustration:

"An ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of sovereignty.

"On board the liner are scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as they please; but all the while the great liner is carrying them steadily onward toward a predetermined port (which they have accepted as their destination).

"Both freedom and sovereignty are present here, and they do not contradict. So it is, I believe, with man’s freedom and the sovereignty of God. The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history."

I am glad God is sovereign!  Are you?

I am happy He is in charge! Are you?

I freely give Him control of my life! Are you?

I am thrilled that my Creator is also my Christ! What about you?

August 6, 2012

Pain needs to be processed before it can become profitable. Job gives us some insight on how that happens:

"After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He said: "May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!' That day—may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it. May darkness and deep shadow claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm its light. That night—may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months. May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it. May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan. May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn, for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes. "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins, with rulers who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day? There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest. Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver's shout. The small and the great are there, and the slave is freed from his master. "Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave? Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water. What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil." Job 3

Ouch! That is painful just to read! It sounds too familiar for most of you.


But as I meditated on this I realized three things Job did in the midst of suffering that allowed God to tranform Job's pain into profit.

First, Job approached pain honestly. He experienced it. He felt it. He didn't deny it. He didn't spiritualize it. God has programmed in us a marvelous coping and recovery system called "grief". Grief moves through steps that ultimately bring us out of suffering. But if we don't confront our pain with honesty we short-circuit the process. Job did not do that.

Second, Job faced suffering with humility. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job did not fall victim to "victimology". Listen to this statement, "Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him." "He didn't say, "Why me?" He thought, "Why not me?"

 

Finally, He faced suffering hopefully. His "saintly wife said" suggested, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die." Job chose to hope in what he knew about the goodness of God. He refused to let pain have the final answer in this situation. That is what integrity is all about, believing what you believe even when it seems unbelievable.

Are you plagued by pain? Are you surrounded by suffering? Face it with honesty, humility and hope! God will bring you through triumphantly as He did Job.

August 5, 2012

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Psalm 32:1

Forgiveness is a blessing!

Blessing equals happiness - spiritual happiness that is.

What has become a blessing to you is the result of Jesus becoming cursed for you upon the cross on Golgotha.

You are blessed because your sins were covered. Covered by what? Covered by His blood that He shed on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins.

To see the awfulness of sin you must look upon Jesus on the cross. His beaten and bruised body hung crucified by the Romans even though everyone knew He was innocent. With large nails pounded through His hands and His feet while the weight on His body pulled against them.

In unimaginable agony His life ebbed out of Him while onlookers heaped scorn and insults upon Him. But in the midst of that He called out for His Father to forgive them as He was dying to provide forgiveness for you.

Sin is a terrible thing!

And yet, at the same time that hideous misjustice was being carried out the beauty of forgiveness could be seen. The glory of a God Who would sacrifice His Own Son to atone for those who had rebelled against Him. And the obedient love of a Son Who would willingly suffer to make forgiveness possible for you and for me.

At the very same time and place the ugliness of sin and the beauty of grace transpired. When I think of the irony of it I am reminded of the words from the great hymn, "When I Survey the Wonderous Cross."

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

This is what I mean when I say, "Forgiveness is SO good because sin is So bad."

Jesus' death atoned for your guilt and His blood covered your sins!

Your best moment resulted from His worst moment!

Have you received the blessing of His forgiveness?

August 4, 2012

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;I will counsel you and watch over you.  Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.  Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!" Psalm 32:7-11

Guilt originated in Eden with Adam and Eve. That is because sin began with them and guilt is the result of sin.

One of the truly heart-wrenching scenes in the Bible is that tragic moment when God comes to the garden looking forward to His fellowship with the man and his wife. But they are not there in the usual place. God calls out, "Adam! Adam! Where are you?"

Where was Adam?

Adam was hiding from the God Who created Him in the garden He had created for him. Was this a game of hide and seek?

No. It was far from a game. It was more about shame. Adam knew he had disobeyed God and he was feeling the guilt. He felt the guilt because He was guilty.

So, here we are all these centuries later and the guilt from our sins still causes us to hide from God. Sin and guilt have no place in the presence of God.

This is the primary reason that sin is so bad. Sin causes you to hide FROM God when you were created to hide IN Him.

That is precisely why forgiveness is so good! Forgiveness removes the sin AND the guilt allowing you to hide IN God!

You can choose to remain in your guilt or you can revel in His grace and forgiveness!

Think of all the blessings you will enjoy as you reside in God's grace:

1) "you will protect me from trouble"

2) "surround me with songs of deliverance"

3) "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go"

4) "I will counsel you and watch over you"

5) "the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him"

Wow!

It sure makes a different to hide in God's grace!

What about you? Are you hiding in God or are you hiding from Him?

Cross references:

1. Psalm 32:7 : S Jdg 9:35
2. Psalm 32:7 : S Ps 9:9
3. Psalm 32:7 : S Jdg 5:1
4. Psalm 32:8 : S Ps 25:8
5. Psalm 32:8 : Ps 34:11
6. Psalm 32:8 : Ps 33:18
7. Psalm 32:9 : S Job 30:11; S 39:10; Jas 3:3
8. Psalm 32:10 : Ro 2:9
9. Psalm 32:10 : Ps 4:5; Pr 16:20
10. Psalm 32:11 : Ps 64:10

August 3, 2012

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5

I don't think I have never met anyone who didn't want forgiveness and I know I have never met one who didn't need it.

I need it. You need! We need it because we sin and sin separates us from God. That is fatal. Forgiveness is the treatment that brings the cure for the disease of sin.

It’s like the story of the boy who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he was in his Grandma’s backyard one day, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. “The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So, Johnny did the dishes. What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. “Remember the duck,” Sally’d whisper when he objected. So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing duck. "I know, Johnny," his Grandma said, giving him a hug. "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you."  (In the Grip of Grace; Max Lucado)

Johnny sinned and he needed forgiveness, just like you and me. We have already established that. But the big question is, "How do I get forgiveness?"

You or I get forgiveness the way Johnny did - stop hiding your sin and confess it to someone Who knows you are guilty and Who loves you and awaits the opportunity to grace you with forgiveness!

In this fifth verse of Psalm 32, David reveals the path to forgiveness and it mirrors the way taken by Johnny in this little story.

First, ADMIT SIN - "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity"

When you try to hide your sin you will suffer guilt and life in fear of being exposed. You will know no peace while you are hiding your sin and like his sister, the Accuser will hold you in bondage to your sin.

Second, AGREE ABOUT YOUR SIN - “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”

Don't cover your sin, confess it! Like Johnny did in the story when he came clean with his Granny. AND, like the Granny in the story, God is well aware of what you have done. He is just waiting for you to dig up the dead duck and come clean with Him!

I John 1:9 promises - "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

The word for "confess" means "to agree" with God about your sin. When you admit your sin to Him you are agreeing with Him about your guilt. As you agree you are guilty you also are agreeing that you need His forgiveness.

Third, ACCEPT HIS FORGIVENESS - "and you forgave the guilt of my sin"

Forgiveness is a gift. As a gift it must be received. Admitting it and agreeing with God makes you eligible for the gift BUT you must receive it! Until you receive it you will not benefit from it.

As the Granny in the story, God forgave you long before you ever sinned!

"God demonstrated His love for you in that while you were still a sinner, Christ died for you!" Romans 5:8.

But you must believe that God has forgiven you and you must forgive others who may have sinned against you and you must forgive yourself! When you have done those things you are able to accept the wonderful gift of His forgiveness!

Are you in need of forgiveness?

Are you tired of the guilt and the bondage of your sin?

Is there sin you are hiding?

Will you admit that sin and agree with God about your sin and accept His gift?

August 2, 2012

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5

Forgiveness is like the eraser on the pencil.

Forgiveness is like a mulligan on the first tee.

Forgiveness is the cop letting you off with just a warning.

Forgiveness is a do-over when you have made a major blunder.

Forgiveness lifts the elephant off your chest.

In his great book, "What's So Amazing About Grace", Phillip Yancey tells the story of a prodigal daughter who grows up in Traverse City, Michigan. Disgusted with her old fashioned parents who overreact to her nose ring, the music she listens to, the length of her skirts, she runs away. She ends up in Detroit where she meets a man who drives the biggest car she’s ever seen. The man with the big car – she calls him “Boss” – recognizes that since she’s underage, men would pay premium for her. So she goes to work for him. Things are good for a while. Life is good. But she gets sick for a few days, and it amazes her how quickly the boss turns mean. Before she knows it, she’s out on the street without a penny to her name. She still turns a couple of tricks a night, and all the money goes to support her drug habit.

One night while sleeping on the metal grates of the city, she began to feel less like a woman of the world and more like a little girl. She begins to whimper. “God, why did I leave. My dog back home eats better than I do now.” She knows that more than anything in the world, she wants to go home. Three straight calls home get three straight connections with the answering machine. Finally she leaves a message. “Mom, dad, its me. I was wondering about maybe coming home. I’m catching a bus up your way, and it’ll get there about midnight tomorrow. If you’re not there, I‘ll understand.” During the seven hour bus ride, she’s preparing a speech for her father. And when the bus comes to a stop in the Traverse City station, the driver announces the fifteen-minute stop. Fifteen minutes to decide her life.

She walks into the terminal not knowing what to expect. But not one of the thousand scenes that have played out in her mind prepares her for what she sees. There in the bus terminal in Traverse City, Michigan, stands a group of forty brothers and sisters and great-aunts and uncles and cousins and a grandmother and a great-grandmother to boot. They’re all wearing goofy party hats and blowing noise-makers, and taped across the entire wall of the terminal is a computer-generated banner that reads – Welcome Home!

Out of the crowd of well-wishers breaks her dad. She stares out through the tears quivering in her eyes and begins her memorized speech. He interrupts her. “Hush, child. We’ve got no time for that. No time for apologies. We’ll be late. A big party is waiting for you at home!

That's forgiveness - God-style! He takes your penalty and gives you His peace and throws you a party!

August 1, 2012

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess  my transgressions to the Lord”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5

In my marriage ceremonies I always include a phrase that says, "And always remember that marriage is the union of two good forgivers."

Not only does it sound neat it is a realization that when two imperfect people join their lives together there needs to be a way to compensate for the those imperfections. Mutual forgiveness is the only way it will work.

The central theme of Psalm 32 is, "Forgiveness is good because sin is bad."

Because you are a sinner you need a God Who is a forgiver. You have One!

Not only is God a good forgiver but His forgiving is greater than your sinning!

You can look at that one of two ways. You could see it as a license to live carelessly and be casual about sin since you can't out- sin His forgiveness! I don't recommend that. Nor does God.

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!  Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey —whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:10-16

Or, you can humble yourself under the grace and goodness of a Forgiving God and let that forgiveness bring you into an intimate personal faith relationship with Him! What could be better than a sinner having the joy of living with a Forgiver?!

You are a sinner and He is a forgiver. Sinners need forgivers! It sounds like a match made in heaven!